Jointing members for concrete sections



May 9, 1961 R. w. BROWN JOINTING MEMBERS FOR CONCRETE SECTIONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 3, 1957 hAu Fig.3 F555...

INVENTOR. ROBERT W. BR WN I ATTOQNEY May 9, 1961 R..w. BROWN JOINTING MEMBERS FOR CONCRETE SECTICNS Filed June a, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. ROBEAT W. BROW/V BY r A TTflE/VEY Unite States Patent JOINTING MEMBERS FOR CONCRETE SECTIONS Robert W. Brown, Baldwin, N.Y.; Leila S. Brown, executrix of the said Robert W. Brown, deceased, assignor to Dominic James Federico, Phillipsburg, NJ.

Filed June 3, 1957, Ser. No. 663,070

3 Claims. (Cl. 50-346) This invention relates to a member for producing a waterproof flexible joint between structural sections having their edges in close proximity, and constituting parts of highways, pavements, platforms, walls of buildings and other installations.

An important object of my invention is to provide a member for joining structural members of concrete or other materials, to be placed between such members; and to contain a plastic substance which virtually fills the space between such members as are adjacent, and is adapted to maintain the plastic therein always flush with the exposed surfaces of said sections, with neither protrusion nor depression during expansion and contraction of said members caused by changes in temperature.

A further object of this invention is to provide a member of the kind mentioned which is simple in design, easy and inexpensive to produce, and certain in its selfadjusting operation.

All the objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in the ensuing detailed description and the novel characteristics are defined in the appended claims. The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the improvement showing the construction and function thereof; but this disclosure is explanatory only and I may make changes in many respects without altering or omitting any of the essential features by which the invention is distinguished.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a top plan ofa portion of a highway or platform made of concrete sections laid with their exposed surfaces flush with one another.

Figure 2 is a cross section of a member according to this invention, located between the adjacent edges of such sections.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of such a member.

Figures 4 and 5 show more fully the construction of said sections with my invention in place.

Figure 6 shows an end closure for said member.

Figure 7 shows in end elevation another design of said member; and 7a a detail.

Figures 8 and 8a are views similar to Figure 2 showing further modifications.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of an additional embodiment of the invention.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are end views of still another construction of joint member.

Figures 13 and 14 shows principal portions of another design of the joint member.

Figures 15 and 15a show a further modification.

. On Figure 1, numerals 1 and 2 indicate adjacent sections of a concrete highway, for instance, with a narrow space between them. In walls containing concrete slabs or sections and sections forming highways, platforms, pavements and the like, the inner or lower parts of .the transverse spaces between such sections are usually filled with a strip of suitable material, and the upper parts with a plastic substance indicated at 3 in Figure 1. When the highway or pavement 4 is laid down, the

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transverse edges 5 of adjacent sections 1 and 2 are as close together as seasonal conditions require. The sections will expand in warm weather and contract in cold weather so that the space between such edges will vary in'width and volume. As a result, the.plastic.3 is often compressed between such edges, as the sections expand in summer time and other hot weather, and the plastic 3 is then extruded and takes the shape of a welt or ridge In the practise of my invention I place between the edges of adjacent sections a trough shaped member which automatically changes in its shape by slow degrees, with fluctuations in temperature bringing about expansion and contraction of the sections 1 and 2; and'said member when placed in position contains the plastic substance 3 and operates so that said substance is always flush with the top substance of the sections, not protruding and not being forced below such surfaces. Therefore the surfaces of the highway or pavement which includes my invention is always smooth and vehicles can travel there-over without bumps or jolts in the slightest degree. Seasonal repairs and replacement of the plastic 3 are rendered unnecessary.

The joining member of my invention is indicated as a whole by the numeral 8 and it has the general shape of an elongated trough which is narrow across the top or mouth and much wider at the bottom. It comprises a pair of long plates 9 separated along their upper edges and joined at the opposite'edges each to a flange 10 extending outwardly nearly perpendicular to the plates 9. The edges of the flanges 10 remote from the plates are joined by a bottom forming with the flanges 9 a relative wide pocket or chamber 11 in the bottom of the trough shaped member 8. The bot-tom has a central bend 12 extending along the length thereof and two other bends 13 running lengthwise of the bottom at each side of the bend 12, dividing the bottom into long portions 14, each connected to the adjacent flange 1t), and portions 15; joined at the bend 12; and likewise joined each to the adjacent section 14. The sections 15 make the proper angle to each other at the bend 12 and the sections 14 are at a very acute angle to the flanges 1i). Affixed to the plates 9 and the flanges 10 outside the trough are reinforcing members 16 having openings 17 which serve to bind the plates 9 to the sections 1 and 2..

' On the highway or wall the member 8 is placed'transversely between the sections 1 and 2 near the exposed surface, and the concrete is poured with the upper or outer edges of the plates 9 flush with the exposed surfaces of the slabs forming the sections 1 and 2, and the right distance apart to allow for contraction and expansion of the sections. In summer the plates 9 will be close together and in colder weather they will be further apart. When the concrete hardens, the plates 9 and the slabs are rigidly joined together. The trough-shaped member 8 is first charged with plastic 3, so as to fill the space 18 between the plates 9, and the chamber 11 below the space 18 and be flush with the exposed surface of the wall or highway between the adjacent free edges of the plates 9. V r

In practice the member 8 is made of suitable material,

such as stainless steel or perhaps a suitable plastic; and the bends 12 and 13 permit easy movements of the sections or portions 14 and 15. Obviously when the sections 1 and 2 expand the plates 9 are forced closer together but the movements of these plates is very slow, and the effect on the bottom is to force the portions 15 toward each other, diminishing the inside angle at the bend 12 and the outside angles at the bends 13. This action occurs because when the plates 9 are pushed towards each other, the flanges 1a) are pulled towards each other, and the parts 14 and 15 are then necessarily forced downward or away from the flanges 18. Thus the volume of the pocket 11 is increased. Hence atmospheric pressure and, when the sections 1 and 2 are laid in horizontal positions on the ground, the weight of the substance 3 within the trough, are sufficient to force the plastic 3 inward, although the space 18 may now become smaller. In consequence the plastic does not protrude and form a ridge on the exposed surface of the sections. Hence the surface of the wall or highway remains perfectly smooth throughout. ee Figure 4.

On the other hand when colder temperatures prevail the sections of the conrete shrink and pull the plates 9 apart so as to enlarge the space 18 between them. The

flanges 10 are now pushed outward, pulling in opposite directions on the bottom it). The portions 14 and in each half of the bottom 11 are now pulled apart slightly, and the bottom tends to flatten and move closer to the flange It]. See Figure 5. This movement diminishes the volume of the chamber 11 and forces more of the 7 plastic 3 into the widened space 18, so as to keep the plastic between the free edges of the plates 9 always flush with the surface of the highway and permit no depression or groove to develop between the adjacent sections. mains perfectly smooth throughout as before.

The sheet material of which the member 8 is manufactured is not very thick and the movement of the parts 14 and 15 of the bottom 11 is always very gradual and very restricted likewise. material ever cracking or breaking along the bends 12 and 13 when it is once in position. The dimensions of the plates 9, the width of the space 18, and the width of the flanges 10 and parts 14 and 15 of the bottom can easily be figured so that the chamber 11 will have the exact volume needed to keep the plastic in the space 18 always flush with the edges of the plates 9.

The sections of the highway not only have transverse seams but longitudinal seams as well, as indicated at 6 in Figure 1. No trough-shaped member is needed at such seams because the expansion and contraction of the sections crosswise is very small. Into each longitudinal seam a strip of wood or other substance is placed, and the opposite or outer long edges of the sections are free and the sections can spread or contract.

Of course it is desirable to prevent the extrusion or leakage of the plastic material 3 at the ends of the trough-shaped members 8, and I have provided cap plates 19 of any suitable outline for the ends of each member, over the space 18 and pocket 11. The plates 19. can be welded or otherwise rigidly attached to one plate 9 at each end of the member 3, as by welding indicated at 20; the other plate 9 at the same end being unattached to the cap 19, so that the sidewise adjustment of the plates 9 towards each other and apart, and the accompanying movements of the bottom and flanges 10 is not obstructed. See Figures 3 and 6.

The concrete slabs or sections 1 and 2 are so constructed that parts of the ends of adjacent sections are closest together at the plates 9. See Figure 5. Below the plates 9, the ends have matched recesses 21 of sufficient depth to form a pocket 22 a little wider than the bottom of the member 8. The two recesses will thus contain the flanges 16 and the bottom parts 14 and 15. The portions of the bottom will therefore be free to Thus the surface of the wall or highway re- Hence there is no danger of the adjust themselves as above described. The members 8 therefore do not need to be large enough or deep enough to fill the entire space between adjacent sections 1 and 2 from the outer or upper to the inner or lower surface of these sections. When the concrete in the sections is poured, these recesses can be easily formed in the ends, by means of trough-shaped elements 23, put in position between the ends and left in place when the concrete hardens. Each element 23 can be semi-circular or otherwise shaped and their upper edges will overlap the bottom and flanges 10. Thus the elements 23 can be a pair of channel bars, one in each section with cavities facing, and so employed. Below the recesses 21, the ends of the sections 1 and 2 can be separated by a space 24 of substantially the same width as the space 18 between the plates 9. Each space 24 may contain a premolded strip 25 and a filling of plastic 26 under it in this space to seal the space 23 against the entrance of water. Or instead of a pre-molded strip 25 in the spaces 24, another member may be located and inverted, but it will have in all respects the same shape and dimensions as the member 8, with its flanges and bottom in the recess 11 and its plates in the space 24, anchored to the concrete by the reinforcements 16. When filled with plastic 3, this inverted member will act in the same manner as the member 8 to keep the plastic flush with the lower or inside faces of the slabs 1 and 2.

The diagram of Figure 7 shows in end view the outline of another design of a joint member having the same characteristics. The plates 9 are not necessarily parallel, but are set to converge somewhat towards their free edges and the junctions of the plates 9 and flanges 10 are rounded. The flanges have a longitudinal bend 10c dividing each flange into longitudinal portions 10:: and 1%, and the latter are flexibie about the line of said bend 10c as an axis. The bottom of the member comprises flat longitudinal portions 14a of equal width, each connected to one of the portions 10b, and the sections 10b and 14a are so made that these sections are rigidly united and the angle between them is constant. Rigidity is obtained by means of reinforcing plates 27 aflixed edgewise to the inner faces of the portions 1% and 140, at separate points along the length of the member 8, and outside ribs 28 at the same or intermediate points. The bottom also comprises other longitudinal portions 15a, each curved crosswise on the arcs of equal circles, with the same radii, each equal in length to the length of one portion 14a, and centers at the junctions of the portions 10b and 14a. The curved portions 15a have their adjacent edges at the middle of the bottom, and these edges each bear a round head 29, and the portions 15a have outside indented grooves 36 at the junctions of the beads 29 and portions 15a. The beads 29 are movably encased in a tubular cap 31.

When the sections 1 and 2 contract to pull the plates 9 apart, the plates 9 assume the positions indicated by broken lines. The sections 20a of the flanges move transversely of the member, and these sections 10a and 10b bend relatively to each other along the junctions thereof. But the angles between the sections 10b and portions do not change and as a result the curved sections 15a are swung toward the plates 9 to diminish the volume of the chamber 11 in the bottom of the member and force more of the plastic between the plates 9 to keep the plastic flush with the outer or upper surfaces of the concrete sections 1 and 2. The curvature of the parts 14a permits this adjustment.

When the sections 1 and 2 expand, the plates 9 and portions 1% are pushed towards each other and the plastic between the plates is made to retract. The bottom is now enlarged and widened because the portions 10b, rigid with the portions 14a, now cause the portions 14a and 15a to swing in a direction away from the plates 10a and thus increase the size of the chamber 11.

The portions 1% and 14a are kept rigid by the re- 'inforcements 27 and 28,- or onese't of these elements can be omitted. If desired, stiifrods can be aflixed to each end of the member 8 at the junction of the parts b and 14a on each side, or stiff yoke-shaped members can be utilized, disposed below the bottom, with upward extending arms aflixed to the same junctions to prevent spreading of these junctions. In Figure 7, the portions of the bottom are shown in their lowermost or expanded positions, and as they swing towards the plates 9, the beads 29 and tubular cap maintain central positions.

Figure 8 illustrates how the joint member is used in the spaces between the transverse edges of the slabs or sections of the concrete floor of a steel bridge. The numerals 32 indicate separate girders running across the bridge in the framework thereof, and the member 8 is just above and between these girders, which are fixed in the framework of the bridge. If the bottom of the member is not wide enough to fill the space between these girders 32 and rest on the top flanges thereof, strips 33 can be welded to these flanges to extend over the tops of the girders, and rest in contact therewith so as to support the member. The beams are aflixed to longitudinal steel stringers 34 and when the concrete is poured the sections 1 and 2 bond to the reinforcements 16 as before and to the girders 32. Forms are placed on the tops of the stringers to support the concrete (which is reinforced) till it hardens, and then the forms are removed. The sections are made thick enough to equal the distance from the upper edges of the plates 9 down below the tops of the girders 32. The concrete does not enter the space between the crossbeams, but may adhere to the tops of the crossbeams and the strips 33. The member 8 has the same shape as described above, and isfilled with a suitable plastic up to the top of the flanges 9; and this plasticis always kept flush as before with the upper exposed surfacesof the sections 1 and 2, at all seasons during expansion and contraction of the sections of the concrete floor of the bridge.

in Figure 9 the jointing member shown is made in two separate halves each of which comprises opposing longitudinal portions 9 which are attached to the concrete slabs 1 and 2 by the perforated projections 16 as before. Along one longitudinal edge each portion 9 is connected to a bent portion or flange 10 and another reversely bent portion 33'. The sections 9 and 33' thus extend along opposite longitudinal edgesof each half and the bent portions 10 connect the portions 9 and 33 to each other. This member 8 is open at the bottom between the portions.

When these jointing members are in place between the sections 1 and 2 one half along the edge of one section and the other half along the edge of the adjacent section, the portions 10 diverge and the portions 33' converge toward each other at their free edges, and the flanges 10 and portions 33' are both in the earth below the sections 1 and 2. The space 18 between the plates 9 again widens out below the slabs 1 and 2 into a chamber 22. At each end two flanges 10 of the jointing member are connected by a transverse link member 46, which is attached by a pivot pin to each of the bent portions 10. The flanges 10 and portions 33 are rendered inflexible, but can bend easily along the junctions of the portions 10 with the plates 9. When this jointing member is in position its ends are closed as before by a plate such as the plate 19 attached to the terminal edge of one flange as described above so that the chamber and the space 18 are closed at both ends.

The plates 9 can be connected by a corrugated flexible portion 9a on top as shown in Figure 8a, or this portion 9a may be omitted. The jointing member is filled with a plastic in the chamber 22' and space 18; or with air only. In warm weather when the sections 1 and 2 expand and force the plates 9 towards each other, the link 46 of course remains rigid and forces the portions 33' farther apart so that any plastic in the space 18 and keep the material in the space 18 filled, flush with.

each end cause the flanges 10 to bend towards .each other, bringing the sections 33 closer together, thus forcing the contents of the chamber 22' into the space 18 the top or outer surface of the sections 1 and 2. This jointing member requires no recesses in the sections 1 and 2, but a small hollow in the earth under the sections 1 and 2 to receive the flanges 10 and portions 33' is all that is needed, and the hollow will define the space 22'.

In Figures l0, l1 and 12 the concrete slabs 1 and 2 are shown as having metal linings 35 along their opposing vertical faces, from the bottom extending towards the top thereof. The joint member 8' comprises sections or plates 36, which are parallel and oppose each other and are separated by space 18, which is smaller when slabs 1 and 2 expand, and larger when they contract. This member when installed has its parts in the positions shown in Figure 11.

. Below space 18 the member comprises sections 37 and 38, the former being connected to the sections 36 by means of beads or grooves 39 and connected to the lower side sections 38 by similar grooves or beads; and the bottom of the member 1 is closed by a section 40 with similar beads at the ends connected to the lowermost sections 38. The beads extend from end to end of the trough-shaped joint 8'. The metal linings 35 stand upright and are made fast to the sections 36 just' above the junctions thereof with the sections 37; and to the outer sides of each section 37 is fastened by welding or otherwise a plate 41 with grooves 42 forming bearings for rods .43, both ends of which at both extremities of the member 8 are connected by links 44. The rods and grooves extend of course lengthwise of the joint member 8 in direction of the width of the slabs 1 and 2; and this joint member will be closed at its ends by plates 9 in a manner above described. The joint member will of course extend entirely across the transverse ends of adjacent concrete slabs 1 and 2.

When the weather is warm and the sections 1 and 2 expand and move towards each other, the space 18 between the sections 36 is of course reduced, and the sections 36 exert pressure on the upper parts of the sections 37, forcing these sections to swing on the rods 43 as pivots so as to move the middle beads 39 apart and spread the lower side sections 38, which bend along the lowermost beads 39. Then the plastic material inside this joint member does not protrude above the surface from the space 18 of the slabs 1 and 2, but much of it passes downward toward the bottom 40, and the plastic remains as before flush with the tops of the sections 1 and 2. See Figure 12.

On the other hand (Figure 10), when the weather cools, and the sections 1 and 2 pull away from each other, the sections or sections 36 are pulled apart, causing the sections 37 to bend around the uppermost beads 39 and swing in the sections 38 in the opposite direction, to cause the middle beads to approach each other and the lower side sections 38 to move closer together around the lowermost beads 39. The plastic contents of the joint member 8 are then forced upward into the enlarged space 18 and become flush with the tops of the slabs 1 and 2 as before. See Figure 10.

The upper edges of the sections 36 can be curved away from one another as indicated at 45, and when the joint member is installed between the transverse edges of each pair of adjoining slabs a piece of wood 46 is laid in the space 18 at the top until the operation is finished. The metal linings 35 have recesses 21 to form a widened space as before between the slabs 1 and 2.

In Figures 13 and 14 the lower part of the member below the two parallel portions 36 is made of elastic sections 47 integral with the plates 36, and joined to the bottom 44 by beads 39. The elastic portions 47 are connected at the top by a link 44 as in Figures 10, 11 and 12. When the slabs 1 and 2 contract to widen the space 18, the pull on the plates 36 causes the elastic sections to curve inward and force the contents towards the top in the space 13. See Figure 13. When the sections 1 and 2 expand and force the plates closer together the elastic sections 47, being held at one point by the link 44, are curved outward as shown in Figure 14 and the contents of the joint member are forced downward into the wider space at the lower part of the joint member.

All the joint member shows in Figures to 14 included are less in depth than the thickness of the slabs 1 and 2.

In Figures 15 and 15:! I show a trough-shaped joint open at the top and closed at the bottom and similar to the design of Figures 10, 11 and 12, but with the uppermost head 39 omitted. At the junctions of the portions 36 and 37, I form longitudinal rows of slits 48. These are covered by individual plates 49 with curved bearing portions 50 overlapping the slits 48 to receive .rods 51, which are thicker than the width of the slits so that they can be kept in place. The rods are loose in said bearings 50 and attached to the rods 51, which extend longitudinally from end to end of the member 8, are links 53 on the outer sides of the portions 37 connecting the rods 51 to the rods 43; the bearing members 42 on the plates 4-1 being recessed to receive the links 53 and permit them to be joined to the rods 43. The longitudinal members 37 can bend then along the line of the slits 48 with respect to the plates 36.

If desired additional links 44 can be used with the construction shown in Figures 10 to 15, between the ends of the trough-shaped member, simply by forming slits in the portions 37 so that these added links may lie in the trough between the ends thereof.

Bolts 54 may be used to connect the lower parts of the plates 36 to the lining plates and the same time to anchor these plates 35 and 36 to the slabs 1 and 2.

Figures 15 and 15a show only part of a trough, with the upper beads 49 appearing in Figures 10, 11 and 12 above the links 44 omitted, and in place thereof the slits 48. Figure 15a is an inside view. Otherwise the trough of these two views is the same as that shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, with the longitudinal beads 39 along the bottom and higher up near the links 44.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

1. A jointing member disposed between the extremities of two slabs laid end to end, said extremities having opposed recesses therein spaced from the outer surfaces of the slabs, said member being trough-shaped and comprising a pair of separated, parallel sections extending along the sides thereof adjacent the top edges of said member, means ai'fixed to said sections adjacent said edges, anchoring said sections one to an end of each of said slabs between said surfaces and said recesses, said member also having other sections depending one from each parallel section, each other section having a flexible joint integrally uniting it to the adjacent flat section, means extending between said other sections adjacent said flexible joints, said means being pivotally connected adjacent the ends thereof to said other sections, said other sections being integrally united at their lower ends by an additional transverse section, said other sections and said additional section forming a pocket to be disposed between said recesses in said slabs, the transverse section having a flexible joint at its junction with each of said other sections at the lower ends thereof, said other sections being flexible between said bottom and said parallel sections, and deformable material in said pocket, so that when said separated sections of the trough move towards each other in response to variations of temperature atfecting said slabs, the pocket is laterally distended along said flexible joints and when said separated sections are moved away from each other, said pocket is laterally contracted; said material in the trough always being flush with the outer surfaces of said slabs.

2. The jointing member according to claim 1, in which said pivotal connections are links of constant length and are attached to each of said other sections at points adjacent said parallel sections.

3. A jointing member disposed between the extremities of two slabs laid end to end, said extremities having opposed recesses therein spaced from the outer surfaces of the slabs, said member being trough-shaped and comprising a pair of separate parallel sections extending along the sides thereof adjacent the top edges of the member, means affi ed to said sections between said surfaces and said recesses anchoring said sections each to an end of one of said slabs, said member also having other sections at the sides depending from each parallel section, said other sections having flexible joints integrally uniting said sections to the adjacent parallel sections, means extending between said other sections adjacent said flexible joints for pivotally connecting said other sections together, said member being closed at its lower end by an additional transverse section, said other sections and said additional section forming a pocket disposed between said recesses in said slabs, the transverse section having a flexible joint at each side connecting it to the sides of said member, said other sections being flexible between said bottom and said parallel sections, and deformable material in said pocket, so that when said separated sections of the trough move toward each other in response to variations of temperature affecting said slabs, the pocket is laterally distended along said flexible joints, and when said sections are moved away from one another, said pocket is laterally contracted, the material in the trough'always being flush with the outer surfaces of said slabs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 311,579 Heylyn Feb. 3, 1885 2,042,408 Lawrence May 26, 1941 2,257,001 Davis Sept. 23, 1941 2,351,255 Fischer June 13, 194-4 

